Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-09-17
cheeseman's A CENTURY AGO,
Patriotic Irish Americana I'm stshe D0Ys
that Tried Mems SOuls.ss

TO the Editor Of The EVENING star:
President Cleveland will be cordially received
and elegantly entertained to-day by the Hibernian
society OF Philadelphia. The occasion seems op-
Fortune to indulge In few historic "reminiscences
OF that venerable association. Recently. when In
"the City OF Brotherly Love, /" had the privilege
OF looking through the minutes OF the original
society, known as ''The Friendly SoAs OF ST. Pat
RICK" These valuable records are now In possess
sion OF Mr.. P. s. Dooner. prominent member OF
the Hibernian Society. They are well preserved
ana are carefully guarded BY their patriotic Gus
tediahs The first entry in the book lie in the neat
handwriting OF Col Jno Nixon, who alse copied
the Declaration Of Independence from Jefferson's
rough draft, and ffst read that immortal docu-
mens to me psopae from one q the windows Of
seqaensly. to-day is lis l1Bth anniversary. Ii Is
therefore older by sixteen years than the Constr
event Of the present week.
HIsToRiC idsT-GE6RsE wAsHNgrof AND JAMES
Q. BIAFfs sRANDFATHER ENROLLED.
seventeen patriotic Irishmen and sons OF IRISH
men, but oil ''very rich Americans" enrolled their
names as members at the initial meeting. First
On the list Is the name Of stephen Moylan, who
was the first president or the society. He was
brother OF the former distinguished bishop Of
Cork, and was one OF Gen. Washingtens favorite
missary general and also brigader general at tie
head OF the famous "Moylan Dragoona" Here too,
are found the names OF Matthew Mease, and his
sns ST S
cell &c, IN the bloody engagement Of the Bon Homme
Renara WITH the Scraps and the latter as
delphia, was one Of the two dozen OF that gallant
corps Who crossed the Delaware with washington
and as assstea IN eap1urg the Then
grandfather of the hero OF gettysburg; Also
that OF Thomas Fitzsimmons, one OF the sign
the flrst Congress- and one OF the wealthiest nler
chants OF Philadelphia. When Washingtehs army
at Valley Forge was In dire distress and the
Friendly Sons OF st. Patrick had subscribed more
than half million dollars for its relief, FItzsm-
mons was the collector OF the fund raised for that
Rrssstng teasrgency and Went around among the
money was thrown, and thus carried to proper
place Of deposit for immediate use. Then follow
James q. Blaine; Commodore Charles Stewart,
part Of whose maine the future President Of Ire
land beafs} Robert Morris, George Washington.
and scattered through the book many others
whose names shine as lustruus stars In the gor-
geous armament OF American glory. In accept
ing membership In the society,"
WASHINGTON WROTE:
II accept with singular pleasure the ensign of 30
worthy fraternity that of the Sons of st. Patrick IN
this cfty-a society distinguished for the firm ad-
herenee Of its members to the glorious cause in which
The medal OF the society, which was adopted
JANUARY II, 172 is thus described In the minutes:
isa in the. center, Liberty joining the hands Of
Hinernia and America: represented BY the usual
fer Unite h yer
nifying Hibernisj.'
THE PRESENT SOCIETY.
The original constitution OF the Hibernian So
ciety, into which that Of the Friendly Sons Of st.
Patrick " aS fnprCad vrac odnnfod Norch 1>On
The object OF the present society is not only to
preserve the dear memories Of the Emerald Isle
ana patriotic devotion to 1.-THE land OF the free
burning Oh the altar OF the rish-American heart
the pure flame OF CHARITY. to light up the pathway
Of the poor ehigrant to these hospitabie shores
OF this society Thomas Mexican, the eminent chief
justice OF Pennsylvania, was the first president,
and among hts successors have been some OF the
most distinguished Irish-American citizens OF the
Keystone State.
GEORGE WASHINGTON pARKE GUSTS TRIBUTE.
I cannot refrain from asking you to print in this
connection brief extract from the "Personal
RecolIections" OF George Washington Parke Gus.
It's (the adopted son OF Washington who pays the
following glowing tribute to Irish valor and pa
triotism in the cause OF American independence:
MANY hard field had been fought ere the fleets and
md y admit PHSsa ssss'
airy Of France led by the young the great the good
d Bn ss AND
combsts OF Furt Moultrie; the disastrous and bloody
days Of Long Island. Of Brandywine and of German
town; the glories Of Trenton. Of Princeton and Q:
Monmouth, all mad occurred and the rank grass had
grawn oyer the grave Of many peor Irishnisn VINO
in the field the Star Spangled Banner Of the opera
tlves l. warthe soldiers, mean-up to the coming of
the French ireland furnished in tine ratio OF hun
dred for one of any foreign nsti0n Whatever. Then
honored be the good old service OF the OF Erin
the War of IndepeudenceI Let the Shamrock I've in.
tertwined with the laurels of the Revolution, ind
truth and Justice guiding the pen OF history iscrios
the tablets of Americas remembrance eternal
tude to Irisnmen!' +. Men.
Washington Sept. II, 1887.